Chicano theatre in America has its origins set near the arrival of Spanish conquerors to United States, many of these conquerors intent on spreading religion throughout the country. The plays and performances put on at this time (near the 1500s) often had religious messages and spread the idea of spirituality throughout the Southwestern United States. Chicano (and Hispanic) theatre allowed those settling in the U.S. a way to express themselves that incorporated their culture. Areas like Los Angeles and San Francisco were the heart of Hispanic theatre in California, and the expansion of the railway system allowed Hispanic theatre companies to travel and put on various productions, from musical “revues” and “zarzuelas” to plays with serious messages relevant to issues in Chicano communities.
Cuban-American theatre was similar to Hispanic and Chicano theatre, but were much more focused on expressing political messages relevant to their culture and homeland of Cuba (Fidel Castro/ dislike of communism). Puerto-Rican theatre was very expository; Puerto-Ricans often used the theatre to express their hardships and strife, but also used it as a way to express themselves and share their culture and heritage, as almost all forms of ethnic theatre did. Puerto-Rican theatre was also similar to Chicano theatre in that there were many traveling companies that spread Puerto-Rican theatre throughout the country (The Puerto-Rican Traveling Theatre Company, for example). Puerto-Rican theatre was primarily popular in New York.
All of these forms of theatre are an excellent example of the diversity and beauty of ethnic theatre, and they are a great illustration of the benefit of different cultures contributing their differences to create meaningful art such as theatre.
Cuban-American theatre was similar to Hispanic and Chicano theatre, but were much more focused on expressing political messages relevant to their culture and homeland of Cuba (Fidel Castro/ dislike of communism). Puerto-Rican theatre was very expository; Puerto-Ricans often used the theatre to express their hardships and strife, but also used it as a way to express themselves and share their culture and heritage, as almost all forms of ethnic theatre did. Puerto-Rican theatre was also similar to Chicano theatre in that there were many traveling companies that spread Puerto-Rican theatre throughout the country (The Puerto-Rican Traveling Theatre Company, for example). Puerto-Rican theatre was primarily popular in New York.
All of these forms of theatre are an excellent example of the diversity and beauty of ethnic theatre, and they are a great illustration of the benefit of different cultures contributing their differences to create meaningful art such as theatre.